Way before any of the signs of hormones appear, parents/carers need to be thinking about teaching the skills to deal with them.
Training bras, menstruation, relationships, masturbation and hormones are all words that can strike fear in the heart of a parent of a pre-teen with Down syndrome.
Dealing with these topics with a little thought and sensitivity will go a long way toward helping your child adjust to the changes in their bodies, increase their independence and develop their identity, self esteem and self worth.